Desenho para Arqueologia (Drawing for Archaeology)

This video essay documents the pedagogical process of lithic reduction techniques, led by Prof. Sérgio Monteiro-Rodrigues for students of the "Drawing for Archaeology" course at the Faculty of Fine Arts of the University of Porto (FBAUP). Commissioned by Prof. Vasco Cardoso, the film is part of the DRAWinU program, which investigates drawing as a primary tool for archaeological analysis and scientific communication. The video argues that the act of drawing stone tools is inseparable from an understanding of the technical gestures involved in their creation, positioning archaeological drawing not as a mere illustration, but as a critical reconstruction of human behavior.

The sound design and editing highlight the tactile and rhythmic nature of the knapping process. By capturing the precise sounds of stone striking stone, the audio landscape provides an immersive account of the physical intelligence required to shape lithic artifacts. The montage interleaves these technical demonstrations with the students' observational drawings, illustrating the cognitive transition from three-dimensional gesture to two-dimensional representation. This video essay serves as both a document of an experimental archaeological workshop and a reflection on the role of drawing in the preservation and interpretation of material culture within the DRAWinU framework.